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〃Don't be so single…minded； my merchant friend；〃 Janos admonished。 〃She obviously means the whole garment。 If you go on like that； you'll be all night discussing small parts of clothing。 From stitch to cuff to collar。〃
〃You think she means the whole shirt？〃 I asked； feeling foolish。
〃Count on it；〃 Janos said。
Deoce was looking back and forth as we debated。 She seemed impatient。 She tugged at the front of her shirt and said the same word she'd said before and pointed at that word on the linen。 〃Shirt；〃 I said。 〃Shirt。〃 I wrote the word down。 Deoce clapped her hands in delight。 She grasped a leg of her trousers。 'Trousers；〃 I said。 And Deoce repeated after me 。。。 'Trousers。〃
Janos got up。 〃It gets even more interesting；〃 he said； 〃when you get past clothing 。。。 to anatomy。〃
I blushed like fury； sure Deoce could understand the tone of his ment。 I turned； thinking of some way to apologize for my friend's lusty remarks； but found a look of wonder on Deoce's face。 Her fingers rose； tentative； and touched my hair； my face。 She said a word。 I didn't need a dictionary。 The only word it could be was 。。。 red。
As Janos strode into the darkness he called back； 〃I don't know why you thought you had to use a love potion on the fair Melina； Amalric。 That fiery hair of yours is potion enough for most women。〃
Deoce patted my hand for attention。 〃Me…li…na？〃 she asked。 〃Melina？〃 She made motions for me to write the word on the pad。
I shook my head。 〃Let's leave Melina for another lesson；〃 I said。 〃Much later。〃
Gentler country greeted us at the end of the next day's trek。 We found a creek slashing through a narrow gully； with trees and brush forming a thin line on either side。 Later； the creek grew into a stream； with thicker vegetation to soothe us。 The water came from a great solitary butte； which lifted from the plains。 The maps showed the butte with a heavy X marked in its center； possibly and hopefully indicating a place to rest。 We were all too trail weary to question the logic of finding fort in such a place。 Even with water tumbling from the rocks； the butte seemed as desolate as the plain。 Janos put Maeen and his men at the ready in case the butte was occupied； and as the sun dipped for its dark coverlets； we struggled to the top。
A marvel awaited。 The butte was hollow in its core； with thick walls to protect everything within from the outside elements。 The crater was filled from wall to wall with trees and flowering plants； with streams crisscrossing it。 We could see animals drinking by those streams； and in the dying light the sky was alive with thousands of birds calling and swooping through dense clouds of fat insects。
Deoce gave a small cry of amazement and pointed to one of the pools of water scattered about this pocket paradise。 We all looked and saw a half…dozen slender antelope playing in the water。 Among them were two tigers。 The tigers were splashing about and rolling on their backs； kicking claws in the air in mock bat like kittens。 They paid no attention to their natural prey。 A wonderful feeling of peace and joy spread； and I had a sudden urge to race to join them in play。 Deoce drew smile lines on her face and said something in her language。 I smiled back into the sparkling eyes。 〃Happy；〃 I said。 〃Very happy。〃
〃Happy；〃 she repeated。 Then added； 〃Yes 。。。 Happy。 Deoce very happy。〃 It was her first full statement in Orissan。
Darkness and caution kept us from going further that night。 It was too far and the footing along the crater's rim was too dangerous。 In the morning Maeen sent Lione and a few men to scout the area to make sure no enemies lurked about。 There was little conversation while we waited； all of us were content to loll about and study the place at our ease。 Deoce and I spent several hours adding words to our dictionaries； pointing out different creatures and flowers and trees。
Lione returned just before nightfall。 He and the other men were grinning and joking； behaving more like gamboling lambs than soldiers。 〃The only trouble we'll have here； Cap'n；〃 he said to Janos； 〃is gettin' up enough foolishness to leave。〃 He painted a wonderful picture of their day's adventure。 There was life aplenty： animals with hooves and paws； fur and scale； blunt…toothed grazers and fanged flesh eaters； shade trees； fruit trees； and every variety of flowering plant； with acpanying sippers of nectar。 〃Near as we c'd figger；〃 Lione said； 〃only thing missin' is men。 No sign of people ever bein' about。 Oh； yeah。 One other thing。 Big thing； really。 Those tigers and deer we saw playin' yesterday？〃 Janos nodded。 〃It's like that all over the valley。 Things that oughta duck and hide walk 'bout bold as you please。 An' things that oughta be stalkin' and killin' pay never no mind。〃
〃But how do they eat？〃 I asked the question for all of us。
Lione's eyes grew wide with wonder as he considered how to answer。 〃That's the craziest thing。 It was peaceful like I said； all day。 But just 'fore we got back； every thin' changed。 Deer spooked and bolted。 Tigers bolted a'ter 'em。 Same with th' other critters。 Things that make a good dinner started lookin' for a place to hide； an' things that kills and eats for a livin' went lookin' for 'em。 But oddest damn thing； was the hunters seemed to take on'y what they could eat。。。 'n' no more。 Then； all of a sudden； th' whole motion stops。 An' things got all peaceful like before。〃 He scratched his head； a silly grin pasted to his face。 〃Now ain't that th' damndest thing you ever heard of？〃
I looked at Cassini； a little uneasy at this peacefulness。 〃A spell？〃
Cassini thought； then shook his head。 〃I have no feeling of another 。。。 presence；〃 he said。 〃But I do have a sense of 。。。 wellness？ Yes。 That's it。 Wellness。 But what its source is； I cannot say。 Although I suspect all the spells I have been casting to assure our safety have finally e together to protect us。〃 He gestured at the thick walls of the crater。 〃Possibly the structure of this place has helped to concentrate my spells。〃
Janos snorted。 〃So all these creatures suddenly became tame when you stood upon the rim？ Blessed in the presence of the Master Evocator？ e now； Cassini。 If that is the explanation； then I think your superiors back in Orissa had better start rewriting the sacred texts。〃
Cassini's face darkened 〃Enough of this；〃 I broke in。 〃Instead of questioning and arguing； I suggest we all just enjoy what we have stumbled upon。 We can rest here and recuperate for as long as it is necessary。 That is all I； for one； care to know。〃
〃Hear； hear；〃 Lione broke in。 Maeen； who had been hovering at his side； glowered at him。 〃Sorry；〃 Lione said。 〃Di'n't mean to poke my nose where it don't belong。 But I b'lieve Lord Antero has a sensible suggestion。 There's plenty to enjoy。 e the morrow； you'll see for yourself。〃
The next day we got ourselves； our belongings； and the animals to the bottom while the dew was still fresh on the ground。 It was the sweetest air I ever breathed； and the music of the songbirds was sharp and clear。 Everything that Lione warranted was true。 We barely set up a real camp that day； but freed the asses of their burdens； and they bawled in delight； rushed off to a nearby pond； and plunged in with much kicking and splashing。 Two big lizards； each three times the length of a man； came out of the water to watch them play； smiling toothy lizard smiles with mouths that gaped wide enough to swallow the asses whole。 The asses ignored them； somehow knowing they were safe； and a bit later we were among them； shedding civilization along with clothes； acting like fools as the cool waters washed away the grime of the long trek。
I dived deep； swimming like the river rat I was； feeling all that coolness caress my belly and flanks。 The water was so clear； I could easily make out the limbs of my rades churning about； as well as the fat bodies of the lizards； with their stumpy； powerful legs。 To one side I saw a shaded inlet leading away from the pond。 I came up for air； dived down again； and swam along that watery avenue edged with gentle； moss…covered banks。 Every Orissan child is joined to our great river practically at birth。 Toddlers play in currents that strong men might fear in other parts。 I was no different； and I had always particularly enjoyed swimming underwater； holding my breath as long as I could； to seek out the many wonders that dwell there； so I had gone some distance down that avenue before I felt the need to emerge for breath。
I kicked lazily； rising slowly to the surface。 But as I rose； I saw slender limbs near the bank。 Instead of surfacing； I swam closer and saw those legs were the shapely limbs of a woman。 They were light nut brown； rising to a delicate smear of black where they joined。 Above them was the flare of hips and a narrow waist。 I had not a thought or care in my mind as I let myself rise； immensely enjoying the view。 I broached the surface； opening my mouth to drag in a breath； and I heard a giggle； then a splash； and I drew in water instead of air。 Gasping and choking； I stumbled toward shore； trying to clear my lungs and my eyes at the same time。 I heard more splashing as someone waded for the bank。 By the time I could breathe and see again； the owner of those limbs was not in sight。 Not that I had any doubt to whom they belonged。
Deoce's face peered out through dangling willow branches。 〃I see Amalric；〃 she cried。 I caught a glimpse of a shapely breast tilting up through the willows。 She saw me looking and pulled the branches closer。 She made a face。 〃Amalric see Deoce； too。〃 She laughed。 〃Make Amalric happy； yes？〃
〃Very happy；〃 I answered； for the first time really appreciating Janos' ideas on language。 She pointed； and I looked down to see that I was standing naked in water that came only to midthigh。 〃Deoce very happy。 Amalric nice。〃
As I gawked； her face disappeared。 A moment later a much…patched； long…tailed shirt came sailing out of the willow。 I pulled it on； the shirt came to my knees。 〃Amalric e talk Deoce； now；〃 she called out。 I climbed out and found her sprawled on the embankment。 She'd washed and mended her costume so well； it was hard to imagine that not long ago it had been nearly reduced to rags。 She patted the ground beside her。 〃Talk to Deoce；〃 she said。 My lady ordered。 I could only obey。
My hopes were dashed； however； when as soon as I sat； she displayed the writing box。 〃Deoce learn very more 。。。〃 She frowned； searching。 She muttered an impatient mutter and grabbed a dictionary from the box。 She stuck a pretty little pink tongue out at the pad； then searched its pages。 〃Aha；〃 she cried； stabbing her finger at a squiggle。 〃Deoce learn very more 。。 。 words。〃 She smiled at me； eyes twinkling。 〃Yes？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 I said。 Remembering Janos' advice on anatomical lessons； I took a small toe in my fingers。 〃Toe；〃 I said。 〃Toe。〃 Deoce dutifully repeated； 〃Toe。〃 She scratched in the dictionary and handed it to me to put the Orissan word beside her own。 I let my hand trail up further。 〃Leg；〃 I said。 〃Leg。〃 Her eyes widened as she caught my intent。 Then they crinkled at the edges。 She gave a low laugh。 〃Leg；〃 she repeated。 My hand rose again。 〃Knee；〃 I said。 〃Knee；〃 she returned； but I felt muscles flex as she prepared to snatch the object of my exploration away。 Instead of going further in that direction； I touched her arm。 〃Arm；〃 I said。 She gave me an odd look as I changed my tactics。 〃Arm；〃 she replied； cautiously。 I leaned close to her； and she did not draw away。 〃Kiss？〃 I asked； and I moved my face closer still。 Her reply was a whisper。 〃Kiss？〃 Our lips brushed； and I trembled at the softness I found there。 I put my hand on the back of her neck to draw her nearer to drink more deeply of those lovely lips。 I felt a small hand on my chest； pushing gently away。 I obliged； gasping a little。 〃No more kiss；〃 she said； but I noted her voice was husky； and I saw a flush of passion rising from her neck。 〃Amalric teach Deoce words。 Not kiss；〃 she said。
I nodded and picked up the dictionary； my mind stumbling for balance。 Deoce noted my confusion and patted my hand。 〃Kiss nice；〃 she said。 〃Make Deoce happy。〃 She straightened her costume and sat up； prim。 'Teach kiss later；〃 she said。 And as my hopes leaped upon my features again； she laughed。 〃Very later